Dean Windass – Biography, Dementia Diagnosis and Career Facts
Dean Windass, the former Hull City and Bradford City striker, remains one of English football’s most recognisable figures. Known for a thunderous volley that secured Hull City’s first ever Premier League promotion, his later years have been defined by a very different kind of courage. In 2025, he went public with a dementia diagnosis that has reignited the conversation around brain health in the sport. This article covers his illness, his career, his family, and the legacy he continues to build.
What Illness Does Dean Windass Have?
- Dean Windass was diagnosed with stage two dementia in 2024, a condition he made public in January 2025.
- In May 2025 he also disclosed that he has ADHD, adding to his health disclosures.
- Windass has said the dementia is still mild and that doctors told him it may be five to ten years before it progresses significantly.
- He has suggested that repeated heading of footballs during his career may have contributed, though this remains his personal view rather than a confirmed medical conclusion.
- The diagnosis came after he agreed to a brain scan linked to helping the family of World Cup winner Nobby Stiles.
- Windass has said he was initially “scared” by the diagnosis and has expressed regret about undergoing the scan.
- The Alzheimer’s Society said his diagnosis highlights the need for support and awareness around dementia in football.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Dean Windass |
| Date of Birth | 1 April 1969 |
| Age | 56 |
| Place of Birth | Hull, England |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Position | Striker |
| Years Active | 1990–2009 (19 years) |
| Key Club | Hull City (271 appearances across two spells) |
| Famous For | Winning goal in 2008 Championship play-off final to send Hull City to the Premier League |
| Marital Status | Not robustly confirmed; reports name a fiancée, Kerry Kehoe / Kerry Allanson |
| Children | Josh Windass (professional footballer) and Jordan Windass |
| Net Worth (Est.) | No reliable figure available |
Who Is Dean Windass’s Son? The Career of Josh Windass
Josh Windass: A Professional Footballer
Dean Windass’s eldest son, Josh Windass, has built his own professional football career. Josh has played in the English Football League and has often been compared to his father due to his attacking style. Reports indicate that Dean kept his dementia diagnosis private initially to protect his sons, including Josh and his younger brother Jordan.
Current Club: Sheffield Wednesday or Wrexham?
Accounts differ on Josh Windass’s current club. Some sources list him at Sheffield Wednesday, while more recent reports state he plays for Wrexham. This discrepancy has not been resolved in the available information.
The exact club Josh Windass plays for is reported differently across sources. One article from Reuters (January 2025) names Sheffield Wednesday, while a later ITV interview (April 2025) suggests he is at Wrexham. Neither claim can be independently verified from the provided material.
Dean Windass on His Son’s Career
Dean has spoken warmly about Josh’s achievements. In interviews he has expressed pride in watching his son follow a similar path and has said that his own diagnosis has made him more determined to support Josh’s career while he can.
How Many Clubs Did Dean Windass Play For?
What Position Did Dean Windass Play?
Windass played as a striker throughout his career. He was known for his physical presence, aerial ability, and knack for scoring crucial goals.
When Did Dean Windass Play for Bradford City?
Windass had a productive spell at Bradford City, where he scored the promotion-winning goal in 1999 that took the club into the Premier League. That moment remains one of the defining goals of his career.
When Did Dean Windass Play for Hull City?
He is most closely associated with Hull City, where he made 271 appearances across two separate periods. His time at the club culminated in the 2008 Championship play-off final, where his goal secured Hull’s first ever promotion to the Premier League. The club considers him a legend.
When Did Dean Windass Retire?
Windass retired from professional football in 2009 after a 19-year career that spanned 12 clubs and more than 700 appearances, with over 230 goals. Besides Hull City and Bradford City, his clubs included Aberdeen, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, and Oxford United.
The goal that Hull City fans most remember came in the 2008 play-off final against Bristol City. Windass volleyed home from the edge of the box, a strike often replayed as one of the greatest moments in the club’s history.
What Is Dean Windass’s Net Worth and Highest Career Achievement?
What Is Dean Windass Most Famous For?
Windass is best known for scoring the winning goal in the 2008 Championship play-off final that propelled Hull City into the Premier League for the first time. That moment cemented his status as a club legend and is frequently cited as the most famous goal in Hull’s history.
How Much Is Dean Windass Worth?
No reliable estimate of Dean Windass’s net worth exists in the available material. Figures occasionally circulate online but none are sourced from verifiable financial records. The content plan notes that any net worth claim should not be made without a sourced estimate.
Publicly available data does not provide a trustworthy net worth for Dean Windass. Caution is advised when encountering specific numbers, as they cannot be confirmed through the sources used here.
What Is the ‘Dean Windass Goal’ in 2008?
The goal came in the 38th minute of the play-off final at Wembley. Windass controlled a cross and swept a first-time volley past the Bristol City goalkeeper. It remains one of the most iconic moments in English lower-league football history.
How Did Dean Windass’s Career and Health Events Unfold?
- 1969: Born in Hull, England. (Wikipedia)
- 1990s–2000s: Plays for Hull City, Bradford City, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, and other clubs. (BBC Sport)
- 1999: Scores promotion-winning goal for Bradford City. (BBC News)
- 2008: Scores winning goal for Hull City in Championship play-off final to secure Premier League promotion. (The Guardian)
- 2009: Retires from professional football. (LBC News)
- 2024: Undergoes brain scan related to Nobby Stiles family research; diagnosed with stage two dementia. (Talksport)
- January 2025: Makes diagnosis public. (Reuters)
- April 2025: Gives interviews expressing regret about the scan and discussing mild nature of dementia. (ITV News)
- May 2025: Also discloses ADHD diagnosis. (BBC News)
What Is Known and What Remains Unclear About Dean Windass?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Dean Windass has been diagnosed with stage two dementia as of 2024/2025. | The exact progression rate of his dementia is not publicly detailed beyond the “five to ten years” estimate given by doctors. |
| He played for 12 clubs over 19 years and scored more than 230 goals. | His current net worth has no verifiable figure. |
| He scored the goal that took Hull City to the Premier League in 2008. | His marital status is not confirmed; reports mention a fiancée but use two different names (Kerry Kehoe / Kerry Allanson). |
| He has spoken publicly about his dementia and ADHD diagnoses. | Whether heading footballs directly caused his condition remains his personal opinion, not a proven medical conclusion. |
Why Is Dean Windass’s Story Important for Football and Dementia Awareness?
Windass represents a tragic but increasingly common narrative in football: the possible link between repeatedly heading a ball and neurodegenerative disease. His openness about his diagnosis has helped reduce stigma and prompted wider discussion about brain health in sport. At the same time, his legacy as the hero who took Hull City to the Premier League remains untainted.
By speaking candidly about his regret over the scan and his wish that others learn from his experience, Windass has become an unintentional advocate for mental health awareness. His story connects the glory of a match-winning goal with the sobering reality that a playing career can carry long-term health consequences.
The Alzheimer’s Society has stated that his case highlights the need for better support systems for former players. Researchers and campaigners continue to call for more studies into the effects of heading, and Windass’s public stance is likely to keep the issue in the spotlight.
What Are Key Sources and Quotes on Dean Windass’s Diagnosis?
“I wish I’d never found out I had dementia.”
— Dean Windass, in an interview with ITV News, April 2025
“Dean Windass scored the most famous goal in the club’s history.”
— Hull City Official Site (Hall of Fame)
“Windass’s diagnosis highlights the need for support and awareness around dementia in football.”
— Alzheimer’s Society, January 2025
What Is Dean Windass’s Legacy?
Dean Windass leaves a dual legacy: on the pitch, he is the Hull City hero who fired his boyhood club into the Premier League with one unforgettable volley; off it, he has become a vulnerable but brave figure in the fight for better brain health in football. His willingness to share his story may accelerate change in how the sport cares for its former players. For more on Hull City’s recent stars, read Jarrod Bowen – Career Stats, Net Worth, and Personal Life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dean Windass
Does Dean Windass have CTE?
No official diagnosis of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has been reported. His dementia is stage two, but the specific type has not been publicly confirmed.
What is Dean Windass’s height?
His exact height is not available in the verified sources used for this article.
Did Dean Windass play in the Premier League?
Yes. He played in the Premier League with Hull City during the 2008–09 season after winning promotion, and also earlier with Middlesbrough.
What is the name of Dean Windass’s son?
His eldest son is Josh Windass, a professional footballer. He also has a second son named Jordan Windass.
How many goals did Dean Windass score for Hull City?
Exact figures vary, but he made 271 appearances across two spells and scored regularly, though the precise total is not listed in the provided sources.
What is Dean Windass’s connection to Nobby Stiles?
He agreed to a brain scan that was part of research linked to Nobby Stiles’s family. That scan led to his dementia diagnosis.
Is Dean Windass still involved in football?
He works as a pundit and appears in media. His son’s career keeps him connected to the game.
What did the Alzheimer’s Society say about his case?
They said his diagnosis underscores the need for greater awareness and support for dementia in football.
Has Dean Windass received any honors?
In 2025 he received an honorary degree from the University of Hull.
How old was Dean Windass when he retired?
He retired in 2009 at the age of 40.
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